5G Auction in Pakistan Postponed Amid Telenor-PTCL Merger Delays
Pakistan’s highly anticipated 5G spectrum auction is likely to face a delay of at least four months, largely due to the Competition Commission of Pakistan’s (CCP) slow progress in approving the proposed merger between Telenor Pakistan and PTCL-owned Ufone.
The uncertainty surrounding the merger has raised questions about how many telecom operators will be eligible to participate in the auction, further complicating the government’s roadmap for the rollout of 5G services.
Sources within the Ministry of Information Technology indicated that even once policy directives are finalized, it would still take around three months to launch 5G services. However, the auction advisory committee has yet to meet, with regional geopolitical tensions—particularly between Pakistan and India—contributing to the delay.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that the international consultant hired to advise on 5G has completed its work. The final report evaluates several scenarios based on the number of telecom participants—three or four—depending on whether the merger goes through. Despite the technical readiness, the process is stalled in the absence of policy guidance.
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The federal government initially aimed to launch 5G commercially by June 2025. The timeline envisioned completing policy reforms in March, issuing directives in April, conducting the auction in May, and beginning rollout by June. With May now nearly over and no substantial progress, that plan appears increasingly unrealistic.
Telenor and PTCL have expressed frustration over CCP’s delays, noting that the merger application—submitted on February 29, 2024—remains in Phase II review. PTCL has pledged a $1 billion investment and appealed to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to expedite the process.
The regulatory deadlock continues to hinder key 5G policy decisions, threatening Pakistan’s broader digital transformation goals.
